25 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has applauded Kenanao Rebagamang, a Form II student at Patikwane Junior Secondary for her intelligent presentation during his farewell kgotla meeting at Paje  on March 22.

President Khama described Kenanao who hails from Majwanaadipitse as an eloquent speaker adding that she had proved that she can be a future president.

Speaking on behalf of other students in the Serowe North constituency, Rebagamang wished President Khama well as he will be retiring at the end of March.

Responding to Kenanao who had requested a photocopying machine for her school, President Khama promised to take it up with relevant officers at the Ministry of Basic Education.

“I would appeal to them to fast track your request,” he said.

Kenanao was privileged by presenting a farewell message to President Khama on behalf of other students.

“I really appreciated your generosity,” she said.  

Kenanao noted in her presentation that President Khama was considerate of issues of societal concern.

Focusing on the positive developments under the education sector, Kenanao commended President Khama for intensifying orphan care programmes.

She said lack of basic needs used to be a hindrance for students from less privileged families to an extent that some of them abandoned their studies.

She also added that in the past children with disabilities were also disadvantaged as they were not well catered for.

Kenanao further added that under President Khama’s rule, significant improvement was noted in services catering for students with special needs.

She added that facilities and specialised teachers for students with special needs were provided.

“In the past they were not catered for and this is evidence that government committed and has the welfare of children at heart,” she added.

To President Khama, she said “you had a heart for children.”

She further stated that early childhood was important in preparing young minds for the learning environment.

She said early childhood programme offered through reception classes did not only familiarise new learners with the school environment but also equipped them with the pre-requisite skills of writing and reading.

Notwithstanding positive developments, Kenanao indicated that the education system was still choking under challenges that must be amicably addressed to prepare the young generation a better future.

She said poor performance, ill-behaviour and absconding from school were among the challenges of education.

Her concern was that some of the students who had failed to continue with their studies at tertiary institutions were not even absorbed by vocational institutions and as such engaged in unruly behaviour.

Thus, she appealed to government to consider coming up with alternative programmes that would cater for students who did not perform well and could not make it to tertiary and vocational institutions.

Kenanao added that some of the students were not academically gifted.

She further appealed to parents to have meaningful contribution to their children’s education.

She added that it was unfortunate in situations where students deserted school and stayed with their parents at home of which most of them appeared not to be bothered by the situation.  

She also encouraged parents to act as change agents by motivating their children to focus on education.

Relating to less developed areas, Kenanao said students residing at such localities were seriously affected as they did not have access to educational facilities such as libraries and information communication technology centres, where computers were available to aid their learning.

“Facilities like libraries will be handy during school holidays,” she said adding due to lack of such some students were likely to lose focus as they hanged out with people likely to influence them negatively.

She further added that schools were faced with acute shortage of resources. ENDS